[Penile vein resection. Treatment of patients with erectile dysfunction caused by venous leakage]

In the period February 1991 to February 1992, 12 patients underwent penile vein resection as described by Tom Lue for erectile dysfunction caused by venous leakage. The median age of the patients was 43.7 years (range 23 to 46 years). Two patients had haematoma and two had penile oedema postoperatively. Both conditions resolved spontaneously within two weeks. At the first follow up six weeks postoperatively, 10 patients were able to have normal intercourse. After six month this number had declined to eight. After a follow-up period of 18 to 30 months only four patients were able to have intercourse. One of these needed self injection with papaverin/phentolamine. Because of the poor results, penile vein resection as described by Tom Lue cannot be recommended as a routine procedure in patients with erectile dysfunction caused by venous leakage. However the operation may be relevant in younger patients with penile venous leakage, where there are no concomitant causes of the erectile failure.